Do I need to change the license plate when changing cars?

[JulietLee]

Changing cars requires changing the license plate. If you buy a used car, you will need to re-register it based on the allocated quota. If you purchase a new car, the vehicle management office will retain the old car's license plate for six months. Within these six months, if you have a new car under your name, you can reuse the old license plate without changing the plate number. At the same time, changing cars does not necessarily require changing the license plate number, but the following conditions must be met: 1. You must apply for the plate registration within six months after the original car is transferred or deregistered—even one day beyond this period is unacceptable, and these six months include holidays; 2. The original plate must have been used for at least three full years; 3. The original plate must have no traffic violations or unresolved accident records; 4. Only the original owner (individual or entity) can apply to retain the original plate—it cannot be transferred to another person; 5. Only a new car purchase qualifies for reusing the original plate—used cars do not (as per the Public Security Bureau's regulations); 6. The original plate can only be retained if the vehicle is transferred to another person or deregistered. If the vehicle is relocated to another region but remains under your name, the original plate cannot be retained.